70 per cent of people are admitted to emergency units at the weekend as a
result of drinking

Three in four people in accident and emergency units at the weekend have been admitted because of alcohol, new figures have shown.

The new research, which was carried out at an A&E unit in the North East of England shows the huge burden that excess drinking places on the NHS.

Young men aged between 18 and 24 made up the bulk of the admissions, with most there because they have been injured in fights or falls, alcohol poisoning or because they were suffering mental health problems.

“The financial burden of alcohol is dramatic, yet the response of governments has been woefully inadequate”

Dr Clifford Mann, President of the College of Emergency Medicine

Dr Jim Connolly of the Department of Emergency Medicine at the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle carried out breath testing of A&E attendees during four weeks in 2012-13.

The alcohol-related attendance rate varied substantially from four per cent to 60 per cent on weekdays, but rose to 70 per cent at the weekend. Based on the figures, researchers calculated that it costs each emergency unit around £1 million a year just to treat drink related problems and injuries.

“This indicates a significant NHS burden if all such emergency departments in the UK are sustaining similar demands associated with alcohol related attendance,” said Dr Connolly.

“Although older people may cost more per patient, younger people as a group are more costly to the NHS because they have more alcohol related attendances.

“Our results suggest that emergency departments would benefit from routinely providing staff to cover the night and early morning shifts, particularly at weekends, to cope with the high proportion of alcohol related attendances at these times.”

New police officers could have to pay for their own training Photo: Getty Images

Dr Connolly also found people who didn’t live in the city twice as likely to test positive than local residents, suggesting that city centres attract revellers from elsewhere, while hospitals and other public services in city centres pick up the tab.

Hospital admissions for disease and injuries associated with alcohol has risen 100 per cent between 2003 and 2013 and 21,000 deaths each year are directly caused by alcohol.

Dr Clifford Mann, President of the College of Emergency Medicine, warned that alcohol was currently cheaper than bottled water and said that many young people were risking their health by 'preloading' on cheap drink before going out to bars and clubs. He has called for a minimum pricing of 50p per unit

"The pattern of alcohol intoxication has changed significantly in the past 10 years. No longer do people set out sober, in the early evening, to attend licensed establishments where they consume alcohol.

"Instead the phenomenon of ‘preloading’ has become endemic. In consequence, people, especially young people, purchase relatively cheap but potent forms of alcohol and drink large quantities at home, either alone or with friends, before setting out much later in the evening to continue imbibing alcohol in pubs and clubs into the early hours.

“The economic, social, and medical consequences of current alcohol strategies create a compelling argument for improved legislation and regulation of alcohol sales. Currently it is perfectly feasible to purchase a volume of alcohol that represents a safe weekly maximum for less than £10. Alcohol at this price is cheaper than bottled water.

“The financial burden of alcohol is dramatic, yet the response of governments has been woefully inadequate.”

Binge drinking is placing a huge burden on the NHS, a new study shows Photo: Christopher Pledger

The team carried out breath testing of A&E attendees during the same 4 weeks in 2012-13 to find out who had been drinking.

One of the specially adapted ambulances ? better known as ?booze buses? ? to respond to patients with alcohol-related illness and injuries before they are taken to one of five recovery centres. Photo: London Ambulance Service